Guest Post
The importance of sleep can never be underestimated. Here on SeniorLiving we have discussed how sleep deprivation is related to brain tissue loss. We noted that the majority of seniors were brought up to believe that minimizing sleep was a healthy habit. Today, studies show that the opposite is true and everyone should be encouraged to sleep for a minimum of seven hours a night. Bad sleeping habits can be hard to break, especially as you get older. One way to boost the chances of a healthy sleep is to invest in the right mattress.
Old habits die hard and this certainly goes for keeping the same mattress. When it comes to change most people resist it. However it is important to realize that investing in a new mattress could make all the difference in the years to come. Old mattresses with worn coils will not support the body correctly and will likely make lying in bed uncomfortable therefore decreasing the chances of a good night's sleep.
Sixty+Me believes that a good night’s sleep is not a luxury but a necessity and recommends making your mattress the most important item of furniture in your home. Every person is different and will require a specific type of mattress to suit their needs. For example, those suffering with joint aches will ideally want to get a memory foam mattress that can properly support their body while those with back pain should aim for a harder latex mattress. If you are unsure of what mattress is best for you consult your doctor.
The older we get the longer we are likely to stay in bed. This is especially true of people suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Alz.org states that individuals spend about 40% of their time in bed at night awake. If you are caring for an elderly parent or friend with Alzheimer’s it is worth checking out the mattress they are sleeping on to confirm that they are as comfy as possible.
Insomnia is one of the biggest reasons that seniors can’t sleep at night. Better Health While Aging revealed one study that found that 23-24% of older people reported symptoms of insomnia. Luckily there are many ways to increase the chances of sleep. One way is to create a cooler environment as this has been proven to encourage the body to sleep. However, ensuring that the room is at the optimal temperature can be a challenge for older people. Innovative companies have been quick to address this problem with Leesa developing a mattress that has a top layer of cooling foam that allows air-flow for a cooler night’s sleep. This will give a person a greater chance of sleeping without having to worry about the temperature of their room.
As we said at the beginning of the article, the importance of sleep can never be underestimated. We hope that this article has inspired you to take a look at your current mattress and evaluate whether it is helping you to get the best sleep possible. As we get older our bodies need a good bed more than ever to keep us healthy and comfortable in our senior years.